Articles tagged with Behavioral Psychology
Researchers found that childhood adversity can reshape an individual's moral development, leading to a 'deformative experience' that pulls them away from their true nature. This asymmetric sensitivity to life history information affects judgments of praise and blame.
A team of researchers identified neural dynamics that our visual system uses to transform what we see into what we do, demonstrating that working memory relies on both what one is storing and why. This new understanding challenges traditional theories of working memory, which state that storage codes are stable over time.
A new study examines the association between impulsivity and suicidal risk in Black emerging adults, finding that mindfulness may be a key buffer against negative consequences. The research suggests that mindfulness can help mitigate suicidal ideation by reducing impulsivity, offering hope for improved mental health outcomes.
Research in rats suggests that loss of immune cells late in gestation may factor into the onset of maternal behavior. Depletion of microglia, a type of immune cell, sped up care for rat newborns in non-mom female rats.
A new study from Florida Atlantic University found that parent attitudes about politics can predict subsequent increases in adolescent child political alienation. In households where parents and adolescents are close, parents transmit political apathy to their children, which may contribute to low youth voter participation.
A new talking therapy called Augmented Depression Therapy (ADepT) has shown encouraging early signs of being more effective and cheaper to deliver than current Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). ADePT targets building wellbeing alongside reducing depressive symptoms, with promising results in a pilot trial.
A new study by Stanford Medicine researchers found that many Tinder users are not swiping for dates, but rather for social connectedness, entertainment, or to cope with negative emotions. The study suggests that online dating is an ineffective coping mechanism for mental health challenges and recommends addressing underlying issues ins...
A new study from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that restricting sweet flavorings and cooling agents in e-cigarettes could significantly reduce youth vaping rates. Nearly 39% of survey respondents would quit using their e-cigarettes if tobacco-flavored e-liquids were the only options available.
Researchers used fMRI to analyze brain activity in response to restaurant menu photos, finding a correlation between neural activity and dish sales. The study suggests restaurants can design menus based on predicted consumer preferences.
Research reveals people who maintained healthy sex lives during the pandemic used various coping mechanisms, such as goal-setting, expanding their sexual repertoire, and fostering intimacy. These strategies were rated more useful by those who tried them, with relational and educational approaches yielding greater satisfaction.
A new UK survey study led by Lancaster University found that 6.6% of the population aged 16 and over changed their reported sexual identity over a six-year period. The research challenges the assumption that sexual identity mobility declines with age, revealing that it is as prevalent among over-65s as young people.
A new experimental study suggests that adding 'trust' and 'distrust' buttons to social media platforms could significantly reduce the spread of misinformation. Incentivizing accuracy led to a large reduction in the amount of false posts being shared, with users more likely to share true information to gain trust reactions.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that officers' first 45 words during a vehicle stop with a Black driver can indicate how the stop will end. The study discovered a unique 'linguistic signature' that characterizes escalated stops, where officers give an order without stating the reaso...
Researchers found that viewers plan and prefer to binge-watch shows with sequential narratives, such as 'Bridgerton' or 'Stranger Things'. This finding contradicts the notion of binge-watching being impulsive behavior.
A nine-year study led by Kyoto University found that critical thinking and logical decision-making promoted intelligent attitudes and risk literacy, reducing anxiety and food avoidance among citizens in Tokyo and Kansai regions.
New research published in Social Psychological and Personality Science found that guilt-prone people are less likely to accept bribes, especially when the act would cause obvious harm to other people. The study highlights the importance of assessing candidates' guilt proneness in personnel selection, particularly for leadership positions.
A new study by the University of Notre Dame found that consumers tend to use cash for purchases they consider guilty or difficult to justify, while using cards for easier-to-justify transactions. This strategy helps consumers forget about undesirable purchases and track their spending more easily.
A Boston University-led study discovered that self-essentialist reasoning plays a crucial role in attraction. When individuals assume others share an underlying essence, they're more likely to form connections with them. However, this flawed thinking can restrict who we find attractive, as it's based on superficial similarities.
A recent study found that workplace accidents are most likely to occur in moderately dangerous environments due to inadequate safety behaviors. Workers tend to underestimate the need for safety measures and allocate insufficient time and effort to work safely in these conditions.
A new study developed a mathematical innovation model grounded in psychology to predict adoption trends for new products. The model divides people into four categories: innovator, early adopter, majority, and laggard, and suggests that each group looks for specific properties of adoption trends to inform their purchasing decisions.
Researchers found that cognitive behavioral therapy significantly reduced fatigue and improved concentration in patients with persistent post-COVID symptoms. After six months, the benefits persisted, indicating a safe and effective treatment option.
Hoarding disorder affects 2% of the population with clutter in homes and excessive acquisition of possessions. The new guidance provides best practice for diagnosing and supporting those affected.
A study found that visitors who received more detailed descriptions of artworks spent more time viewing them, exhibited physical signs of excitement, and reported higher comprehension and positive emotions. This suggests that providing more information about modern art can lead to a more satisfying aesthetic experience.
Emotion dysregulation and fear of missing out (FoMO) contribute to problematic smartphone use among young people. Difficulty in controlling impulses and emotional clarity increase FoMO levels.
A UBC study found that employee layoffs have a strong impact on voluntary turnover among remaining employees, especially when high performers are let go without clear justification. The research suggests that organizations should prioritize clear communication and compassionate decision-making to avoid destabilizing their workforce.
New research suggests that people take different types of photos depending on their goal, with first-person photos capturing physical experiences and third-person photos revealing the bigger meaning. Researchers found that taking and posting pictures can help people reconnect to past experiences and build self-narratives.
A new study by Dartmouth College researchers found that biased prior beliefs played a significant role in how people from both political parties updated their fraud beliefs after the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The study used a probability-based computational model to analyze survey data and found that Democrats and Republicans te...
A workshop at the Santa Fe Institute explores the complex interplay of contagions, including infectious diseases, social phenomena, and online behavior. Researchers aim to develop new tools to study interactions between different types of contagion.
A study involving over 4,700 people from diverse ethnoreligious populations found that participants showed increased generosity when prompted to think about God. The researchers discovered that belief in God may promote positive intergroup relations and cooperation across religious divides.
Researchers found that people whose depression symptoms improved after psychological treatment had a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease over three years. The association was strongest in younger adults and suggested that accessing psychological therapy could have long-term physical health benefits.
Researchers found that forecasters have an incentive to misreport when their reputation is at stake, with higher levels of misreporting in less uncertain situations. The study suggests firms should trust expert advice when uncertainty is high and link evaluations to ex-post accuracy to reduce misreporting.
A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences documents the dynamic nature of student discipline during an academic year. Schools with high racial disparity see discipline rates for Black students increase faster as the semester continues.
New research suggests that disconnecting from work at home can boost a leader's energy and effectiveness the next day. Managers who ignored their work email at home felt more refreshed and were rated as effective leaders by their employees.
A new study by ETH Zurich researchers has developed a model that can predict stress levels in the office based on typing and mouse behavior, finding stressed individuals type and move more erratically than relaxed ones. The approach could help prevent workplace stress early on with anonymized data protection.
A comprehensive review of conspiracy interventions found that only half of the studies reported significant changes in participants' beliefs, with most existing methods being ineffective. Fostering critical thinking and analytical mindsets were found to be more promising approaches.
A recent study found that conservatives are not easily persuaded by traditional pro-environmental messages, even when framed in terms of their own moral values. Instead, messages emphasizing loyalty, authority, or purity were equally effective in promoting pro-environmental behavior among conservatives.
Researchers at Tulane University found that social rank affects the stress response in adult female mice, particularly in how they respond to chronic social stress. The study revealed differences in brain areas activated by social encounters based on social status, with higher-ranking mice more susceptible to social isolation and lower...
Researchers used functional MRI scanners to monitor brains of subjects watching real-life videos, finding that different parts of the brain work together to understand and remember situations. The study suggests the brain creates mental sketches of people that can be transposed from one location to another.
A recent study published in PLOS Medicine found that increasing the proportion of non-alcoholic drinks on sale in online supermarkets can lead to a reduction in the amount of alcohol purchased. Participants who were exposed to more non-alcoholic drinks selected and purchased fewer units of alcohol compared to those with lower proportions.
A recent study found that heavy alcohol use changes signaling pathways in the brain, affecting cognitive functions like decision-making and impulse control. The mechanism involves the brain's immune system and the molecule interleukin 1β, which regulates inflammation and neurotransmitter release.
A new study highlights the risks of cryptocurrency investors engaging in online gambling, with cryptocurrencies posing extreme price volatility. Cryptocasinos present a double danger, allowing gamblers to bet on sophisticated products using cryptocurrencies.
A study of 32 Black patients with type 2 diabetes found that humanistic communication, family involvement, and clear medical information are crucial for effective shared decision making. The research team offers recommendations to improve SDM in safety-net primary care settings.
A new study by University of Houston psychologist Adam Fetterman found that neighborhood apps are associated with inaccurate perceptions of higher local crime rates. The frequent use of such services by a large portion of the population suggests important implications for perceptions and behaviors related to people's neighborhoods.
A new study from Aarhus University reveals that women with endometriosis can significantly improve their quality of life through psychological therapy, reducing symptoms such as pain and constipation. The trial shows that mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions are equally effective in improving quality of life.
A WVU researcher is working on a biopsychosocial intervention to help people with chronic hip pain move and regain mobility. The intervention, called HIPS, combines mindfulness techniques like self-compassion and progressive relaxation with goal-setting and diaphragmatic breathing to reduce pain and increase physical activity.
A community-engaged approach to research prioritizes the concerns of participating communities, leading to a better reflection of community needs and issues. By incorporating CBPR, researchers can minimize biases and increase public trust in science.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that an online resilience programme, SPARK Resilience, reduced stress and improved well-being in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. The programme, which combines training and group interaction, was effective in increasing resilience and psychological stability.
Researchers discovered that great apes deliberately spin themselves to dizzy, mimicking human behaviors like whirling dervishes. This study suggests that humans may have inherited the need for altered states from their evolutionary ancestors.
Researchers developed a framework highlighting four facets of honest behavior: intellectual honesty, honest content, honest disclosure, and honest delivery. These elements are crucial for fostering accurate beliefs, understanding, and truthful communication.
A new study published in Scientific Reports found that individuals who synchronize their pupil dilation patterns to a simple rhythmic beat also exhibit higher levels of synchrony with other minds, such as attending to the same story. This suggests an underlying mechanism uniting different forms of synchrony.
Research from Penn State found that self-monitoring physical activity through smartwatches leads to increased motivation and activity levels. Participants who received prompts to report their activity took hundreds more steps in a given day compared to those who didn't receive such prompts.
Experts warn that clearer messaging on gambling harm is needed, citing the lack of impact from the widely used 'Take Time to Think' slogan. A study found no significant change in people's betting behavior, including time spent gambling and amounts bet.
A new study by researchers from Penn and Princeton reveals that, on average, larger incomes are associated with ever-increasing levels of happiness. However, an unhappy cohort within each income group shows a sharp rise in happiness up to $100,000 annually before plateauing.
A new study by University of Cambridge researchers found that offering tiny cash rewards for accuracy can increase people's ability to distinguish between misinformation and the truth. The study suggests that fake news thrives due to a motivational imbalance, where users have more incentive to get clicks than to spread accurate content.
A recent study found that diversity trainings for police officers are ineffective in changing behavior, as intentions to use strategies decrease over time. The researchers recommend embedding lessons with other organizational initiatives and providing 'super-tailored strategies' to address specific daily work activities.
A recent study found that anxiety about contracting COVID-19 is a significant predictor of vaccine hesitancy. However, proactive coping, a trait involving future planning, also plays a surprising role in vaccine hesitation, amplifying it at both ends of the spectrum.
A recent study found that promoting physical activity and behavioral support can help smokers reduce their smoking in the short-term, but delivering lasting benefits is challenging. The research, which recruited over 900 smokers, discovered that engaging with motivational support had some initial benefits, but only a small percentage o...
A study by Columbia University researchers found that individuals who saved money had goals that matched their dominant personality traits. People whose self-reported savings goals were a good fit for their personality traits had a bigger nest egg, on average.
A Rutgers study found no statistically significant improvements in patient or caregiver anxiety, depression, or psychological distress in palliative care interventions. The researchers identified conceptual and methodological problems in the literature, including excluding patients with existing mental health conditions from studies.
A new study by Oxford University Press USA found that watching nature documentaries, such as BBC's Green Planet, increases public awareness of plants and their importance. The researchers measured online behavior and found a significant effect on viewers' interest in portrayed plant species.